Osceola Town Council's top priority is utilities

-Officials hope 2007 brings sewer, water service to older residences.

-Officials hope 2007 brings sewer, water service to older residences.

December 22, 2006|LARRY FORD Tribune Correspondent

As the year ends, Osceola officials are looking optimistically to 2007 as the year when sewer or water service, possibly both, will finally extend to older residences of the town. "Water and sewer is a big deal to us," said Greg Burris, town council president, after Monday night's meeting of the council, its last of the year. "It's our number one priority." Burris said he hopes to see earth being moved by next fall and is looking at an even larger area than first laid out, now that the town has preliminary figures on the costs from the city of Mishawaka. Burris said figures provided by Mishawaka Utilities indicate it will cost $300,000 to provide water to the area outlined and $400,000 to $500,000 to bring sewer service to the same area. He said the town will apply for state grants that are due to be awarded next summer for such projects and will follow that up with an application for federal grants to help offset more of the cost. The town will use $233,000 of state money it received earlier this year as its share of proceeds from the state's lease of the Toll Road. It will use that money to match the funds it receives for the two projects. Not having enough money to match potential grants in the past has stalled any previous action. Last month, the council outlined an area known as Eagle Point as the location to which it wanted to first extend service. Water and sewer lines currently serve two new subdivisions on the town's northwest side. The new service would extend those lines east, on Vistula Road to where it ends at the St. Joseph River, serving not only those homes but houses on Barnes, Griffith and Garfield streets running south off Vistula. Homeowners would be required to hook up to a sewer line if it passed their property. They could not be forced to hook onto a municipal water system. Homes in the area now get their water from wells and have septic tanks to collect sewage, according to statements made earlier by Clerk-Treasurer Robert Mark. Monday night, Burris said he hoped there would be enough money to go even farther south, past where Garfield Street ends to near the north end of Lamport Street. The lines could then be brought back west to tie in with already existing lines, forming a loop and allowing for maximum water pressure. The Eagle Point area was chosen because many homes there are built on 30-foot-wide lots, much smaller than would be allowed under present regulations and too small to allow for new wells or septic tanks under current rules. "If these people lose their well or septic, they're dead," Burris said. "So far, we've been lucky, but one of these days it's going to start, so that's why it's been our number one priority to get those services down here." Mishawaka Utilities already provides sewer and water service to the two subdivisions. The utility agreed to extend those lines and came up with the cost estimates after being asked by the town to provide them. Burris said those costs appear to be within the town's grasp financially. The town will apply for $500,000 grants each for sewer and water. If the town receives enough money, Burris pointed to the map again Monday night showing a route south on Lamport Street to Lincoln Way West, where the lines could then be brought back east to Beech Road and north on Beech to where they end just south of Moran School, making a larger loop and providing service to more homes. For a town that's dreamed of bringing water and sewer service to residents for 50 years, it's no wonder Burris put it at the top of the list of town projects for 2007. 2007 meeting dates The council adopted 2007 meeting dates at this week's meeting, continuing its schedule of first and third Mondays at 7 p.m. at the Town Hall. The only exceptions will be Jan. 2, Jan. 16 and Sept. 4, all Tuesdays following national holidays.